Wedge support for objects packed in shipping boxes



Feb. 3, 1 T. MUNROE ETAL WEDGE SUPPORT FOR OBJECTS PACKED IN SHIPPING BOXES Filed Aug. 16, 1929 //v VENTQR;

JM A TTORNE y Patented Feb. 3, 1931 Li hted r easier:

THOMAS MUNROE, OF DAYTON, OHIO, AND JOHN B. COLEMAN, F BLOOMINGTON, INDIANA WEDGE SUPPORT FOR OBJECTS PACKED IN SHIPPING BOXES Application filed August 16, 1929.

This invention relates to new and useful improvements in wedge supports for objects packed in shipping boxes.

It is the principal object of our invention to provide in a shipping box, a wedge support for an object such as an article of furniture, so that when it is introduced into the box it will be raised a suficient distance from the bottom to prevent injury to its legs or other projections.

At present it is difficult to position an object such as a console, in a shipping box, with its legs out of contact with the bottom thereof, without first turning the box up side down and then nailing or screwing the support to its sides. This not only entails much labor in packing the object'in the box, but during the removal operation, the nails or other fastening elements are likely to mar the object when they are pulled from the support.

Our wedge support for the article being packed, permits it to be easily elevated while being moved into the box from the front or back, to bring it to a position wherein its legs will be above the box bottom. In this position it will remain during shipment, after the front of the box has been applied, without any nails or other fastening elements being used to secure the movable part of the wedge support to the box sides.

To unpack the box, it is only necessary to remove its front or back and then withdraw the object it contains through the opening thus made.

While the wedge support will lift the legs of the object shipped from the bottom of the box, and prevent its vertical movement within the latter, it is another object of the invention to apply to the top of the object a harness which will prevent it from shaking laterally.

Other important and incidental objects will be brought out in the following specification, 45 and particularly set forth in the subjoined claims.

In the accompanying drawings, Figure 1 is a perspective view of our shipping box, showing a radio console mounted on our wedge support therein. Figure 2 is a vertical Serial No. 386,449.

sectional view taken through the same. Figure 8 is a perspective view of the top harness applied to the article being shipped. Figure 4 is a perspective view of the wedge support for the same within the box. Figure 5 is a cross sectional view taken through the middle portions of the wedge members 5 and 6, showing how they may be connected by a V joint. And Figure 6 is a cross sectional view taken through the middle portions of, the wedge members 5 and 6, showing how they may be connected by a ship-lap joint.

Referring to the accompanying drawings illustrating our invention, the numeral 1 designates a rectangular wood shipping box with its front 1 removed.

For the purpose of mounting an article of furniture such as a radio console 2 within the box, with the legs 3 of the console above the box bottom 4 so that they will not be injured in shipment, nor the console be scratched during its removal from the box, we provide a wedge. support that is constructed as follows.

Referring to Figures 1, 2 and d, the wedge support consists of two bottom members 5, 5, each one of which has a top surface which inclines upwardly from front to rear. Each one of these wedge members 5 is nailed to a side of the box in a position to support the article being shipped, with its legs or other projections above the box bottom.

Free to slide inwardly and upwardly upon the fixed wedge members 5, 5 are two wedge members 6, 6 whose bottom surfaces incline upwardly. from front to rear. Therefore, when these wedge members 6, 6 are forced inwardly upon the fixed wedge supports 5, 5 respectively, they will be raised to elevate an object secured upon a cross piece 7 nailed at its ends to the wedge members 6.

When it is desired to pack an article of furniture such as the console within the box 1, the cross piece 7 is secured to the bottom of the same. Then the console is raised and moved toward the open front portion of the box, to engage the bottom surfaces of the wedge members 6, 6 with the top surfaces of the wedge members 5, 5. l/Vhen the console is then moved inwardly, the wedge members 6, will be raised through the engagement of their tapered surfaces "ith the tapered surfaces of the wedge members 5, until in its innermost position the legs of the console will be well above the bottom A} of the box so that no injury can befall them during shipment.

To the top of the console a harness 8 may be applied to prevent a lateral movement of the console during shipment. This harness preferably comprises a frame constructed as follows: Secured upon two end members 9, 9 are two side members 10, 10. Nailed or otherwise secured upon the members 10, 10 between their points of connec tion to the end members 9, 9 respectively are two cross slats 11, 11. This harness snugly its the top of the console 2, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, to prevent its lateral :nov mcnt during shipment.

After the console is in place within the box 1, the front 1 is nailed to the latter, no other nails or fastening elements being needed to maintain it securely within the box during shipment. The unpacking operation is just as simply carried out by first removing the box front 1 and then drawing the console out by sliding the movable wedge members 6 outwardly along the fixed wedge member 5, which need not themselves be removed. Consequently, the console will not be marred by the pulling out of nails or screws from its support prior to its removal from the box.

In order to prevent the wedge members 6, 6 from slipping off the wedge members 5, 5, each wedge member 6 may be connected to its respective wedge member 5 by a V joint as shown in Figure 5 or by a ship-lap joint as shown in Figure 6.

Having described our claim:

1. The combination with a shipping box for an object having legs or like projections, of wedge members fixed within the box, and wedge means attached to the object being packed for inward movement over the fixed Wedge means to raise said object to lift its legs above the bottom of the box.

2. The combination with a shipping box for an object having legs or like projections, of two members, having upwardly inclined top surfaces, secured to the inner portions of the sides of the box, a cross piece secured to said object, and two members secured to said cross piece and having inclined bot.- tom surfaces for engagement with the inclined top surfaces of the first members, whereby, when the cross piece members are moved inwardly, they will be elevated to raise the object being packed'to lift its legs above the bottom of the box.

3. The combination with a shipping box for an object having legs or like projections, of wedge members fixed within the box,

invention, we

In testimony whereof we h ave hereunto set I our hands this 14th day of August, 1929. THOMAS MUNROE. JOHN B. COLEMAN. 

